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I’ve never been able to get into audiobooks for two reasons: I’m a fast reader who finds the pacing of most audiobooks far too slow, and I like coming up with my own ideas about what any particular character’s voice might sound like.

So this week’s prompt needed to be fiddled with a little in order for me to come up with a (mostly on-topic) response to it. If I had to listen to audiobooks for some reason, these are the things that would make that experience more interesting for me.

Hot Tea

My grandmother likes to brew two cups of tea, one for each of us, from the same teabag when I visit her. If there’s no one around to share her teabag, she’s been known to save it until later on in the day and use it again. I credit her for my love of tea.

Healthy Snacks

I’m a nibbler. Rather than eat two or three big meals a day, I’d prefer to graze my way through several little ones. There’s something so emotionally satisfying about eating bits of various fruit, vegetables, or nuts while you’re in the middle of a story.

Reading Socks

The bookstores in Toronto sell warm, thick reading socks that look something like the socks in the stock photo above. If I didn’t live in such a warm and cozy apartment, I’d buy a pair in a heartbeat!

Adult Colouring Books

Few things are as relaxing to me as colouring. I love picking out which shades to us and slowly seeing my picture come to life. If I could colour while I was listening, I think I might be able to finish an audio book or two.

Fidget Spinners

I’m not a wiggly person in any other scenario, so why am I so wiggly at the thought of sitting down and listening to a book being read to me? No idea, but a fidget spinner might also help.

How many of you listen to audiobooks? Who else might need distractions in order to fully enjoy this type of storytelling experience?

This is such an interesting topic — I love listening to audibooks, but usually when I am at the gym or out for a walk, so in a way I am distracting myself when I am listening to them. Interesting take!

I’m not a listener of audiobooks either. Maybe it’s the pacing but more than likely, it’s the fact that I use time when I COULD listen to them to listen to music instead. However, the things you’ve listed would help me if I decided to do so. Hey, you should show some of your coloring. I’m super interested!

Audiobooks are tricky – you want to entertain yourself while listening, but it’s so easy to lose focus. I usually knit something simple (so that I don’t have to keep count of the stitches) or play Tetris while listening to audiobooks.

I always clean while I listen to audiobooks, it keeps my hands busy! Ooo those reading socks look comfy, I have a couple of pairs of thick socks and I can confirm they make the experience a lot more enjoyable.

I would DEFINITELY need distractions. I find something that works for me is cleaning the house while listening to an Audiobook in my wireless headphones. It’s just the right balance of mindlessness and business that I do pretty well.

Driving doesn’t work for me. I think coloring might though! Great post!

Ha, glad to see I’m not the only one who had to fiddle with the prompt because I don’t read audiobooks. xD That’s so interesting to hear about your grandmother using her tea bag twice! I was always told I was weird when I do that, so I’m glad to hear there are others like me.

I have ADHD, so I have trouble focusing on audiobooks most times, but your idea to color while listening to one is golden! I might give it a try. I might actually be able to make it through a book if I did that. My hands need to be busy when I’m listening to something, or otherwise, I completely zone out.

Audiobooks are a great way for me to get through my commute or other travel. (I can’t look down to physically read while I’m a passenger in a car, so it’s good for long trips, too.) I also listen while knitting, or sometimes while doing chores like folding laundry that require both hands but not much brainpower.

Very cool list!! I recommend starting out with a novella or maybe even a favorite story of yours. That may help ease you into it!! TY so much for stopping by my blog <3 I loveeeee your list!!! Best of luck!!!

I’m generally reluctant to try audiobooks, too, but some narrators make it worthwhile (Wil Wheaton) to try a new story in audible format, and others (Paul Scofield, Jim Dale) make beloved stores like Narnia and Harry Potter a new experience.

The only way I could get through my own books on audiobook without feeling totally self-conscious was to color while I listened! I loved doing it that way and will occasionally color still while I listen to a book.

Tea and healthy snacks are a great idea. As is the coloring. Maybe that would help me focus on the story more. I find if I do other things like clean etc. the way everyone else seems to listen as they go about their day, I get too wrapped up in the task I’m doing and miss things. And I agree the pacing can be a bit slower. I have a friend that listens to them on 2x speed, but I find that too fast. I think I upped Good Omens when I listed to it last year to 1.25x speed to cut down on the pauses between words and sentences, but I still found my mind wondering too much.

I need help with audio too haha. My main problem is I get distracted, and then I have to go back, which slows me down even more. Le sigh. Tea though is always a nice way to unwind with a book, audio or otherwise. 🙂

I was a bit leery of audiobooks until a few years ago when I listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks for the first time – I still prefer print books but I usually have an audiobook on the go. I love how listening to an audiobook frees my hands up to do something else – usually a craft or sewing or something like that. Your list definitely makes me want to do more cozy things – love the idea of the reading socks!

I’m not an audiobook person either. Not even in the car on long drives, my mind wanders too much. I’ll suddenly realize that I’ve spaced out and missed a whole chapter. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.

Like you, I cannot seem to get into audio books either. It takes away from the imagination. But I think your tips, if I were to try it, seem great. I LOVE to sip tea and adult color while listening to a good podcast. I didn’t know reading socks were a thing but now I am intrigued and want to know more. Are they like house-slipper socks?

I’d say that reading socks have a similar texture to house-slipper socks. They are very thick and warm and could almost be used as shoes if they had rubber soles instead of being soft all over. I hope that makes sense. It’s hard to describe these things!

I’m right there with you in not be an audiobook reader! I feel the same that I can read a book faster than it can be read to me. And I never realized the thing about the voices, but I feel like that’s true for me!

You did better than I did on staying on topic today! I went completely off the wall! Lol.

Getting into audiobooks is definitely hard at first. You just need to get used to it a little at a time. You’ll probably have difficulty concentrating on the story in the first few. You’ll need to try out a few and see what narrators and reading styles work and don’t work for you. Persistence is key. I know because I was there a few years ago 🙂

I get what you’re saying about being a fast reader and pace. I am, too. I don’t mind audiobooks, though. I have found some narrators I love and I speed up the pace to about 1.25 to keep things rolling. 😉

I have only listened to a few audiobooks, but I usually find that going for a relaxing walk really helps. If I am just sitting there listening, I find my mind can wander – even if it’s an interesting one. I do rather like it for short breaks at work though.
Colouring is an awesome idea! That would definitely work for me!

I’m always doing something while I listen to an audiobook – folding laundry, taking a walk, cleaning the house. I find it difficult to just sit and listen. Coloring and playing games on my phone sometimes work too!

I’m with you on sitting down and actually listening to Audiobooks…do people do that at their houses? It took me a long time to get hooked on them, and even now I only listen while I’m driving! (But I tend to like the books I listen to, just slightly less than any book I sit down and read!)

I am a fast reader too which is why all my audio books play at 1.5x or 2x of actual reading speeds.. narrators have a better sense of accents but thanks to them I’m starting to learn 😄😁
(You can see I like audio books) I love your twist to the prompt though!! They all sound like something I’d enjoy too☺️

These are great! I’ve never been an audiobook person but my (newfound) love of podcasts makes me believe I could enjoy them (though not as much as a good book).
I do think I’d need to be somewhat occupied since I clean or do errands while I listen to the podcasts. Hot tea and a coloring book sound like the perfect, cozy remedy.

I can only listen to audiobooks when I’m doing something, like driving or cleaning. I keep thinking that one day I’ll try cross stitching while listening and see if that works. Otherwise, I find it too slow an experience; like you, I’m a fast reader.

Ooooo. Doing a colouring book while listening to audio sounds so relaxing! I’m going to have to try that!
One of my favourite things about audio books is that you have both hands free. Where as with reading a physical book you need to make sure the page doesn’t flop closed and you lose your space. With audio you could just wave your hands around in the air the whole time and the story will forever continue until you hit pause 😂😂
Happy Reading! ❤️

I always need to be doing something else while listening to audiobooks. I mostly listen when I’m driving, doing work around the house, making art, or when I’m working on something that does not require much attention (such as typing or playing a game). I like your list. All of these sound like relaxing ways to listen to an audiobook.

I’ve never heard of reading socks but I have a rather large collection of warm fuzzy socks. My feet are always cold despite living much farther south than Canada! Audio books took me awhile to get used to and to enjoy. My first were rereads or middle grade books and I’ve really enjoyed some memoirs read by the author. They make folding laundry or cleaning tasks so much easier and the few times I’ve colored while listening were so relaxing. I really need to do that more often. I love the story about your grandmother!

You asked if I had seen the Netflix adaptation of Guernsey. I haven’t yet! I keep meaning to watch it but always forget about it when I actually can. Plus, I’m a little afraid because I so loved the book.

I haven’t thought of using coloring books with audiobooks, but that’s a great idea! I also sometimes have trouble with slow audiobook pacing—that’s why I love it when audiobook apps let you listen at double speed, etc. I use Libby to listen to audiobooks from my library and there are a bunch of speed options.

I have never been an audio book fan, but I have listened to one or two. Maybe someday I’ll give another one a try, and just lately I’ve been wondering if I’d like classic lit better in audio book format. Might be worth a try.

I love audio books! But I can’t listen to them in 1x speed anymore. Usually 1.4x to 1.8x depending on the narrator’s voice lol. I also listen to audio books when I’m assembling Gunpla, robot toys that come in pieces then you click them on together. It takes me about 4 hours to properly assemble a good one.

Coloring is perfect while listening to audiobooks! If I am not reading along with the audiobook I’m probably coloring or playing a puzzle game on my phone. Also, tea is perfect for reading of any kind. It’s the best comforting drink to have in order to get cozy and read.